I was a Direct TV user for over 13 years and never had trouble with my equipment. I upgraded to High-Def and had to "lease" new equipment, both a High-Def receiver and a Standard-Def receiver. 9 months later, the Standard-Def receiver would not power on.

After being on hold off and on, I was finally informed Direct TV would replace my receiver - for a $19.95 handling fee. I informed them why should I pay to replace a piece of equipment that I did not own, that I was leasing - is that not what the monthly lease fee covers? I asked to speak with a supervisor and was put on hold for several more minutes. The original person came back on the line (no supervisor) and informed me they could waive the $19.95 handling fee if I purchased an extended warranty - On Leased Equipment!!!

So I asked if they were refusing to replace my 9 month old receiver. They informed me I have to pay the handling fee. I informed them they broke the contract and also technically broke a the lease agreement for the equipment. I cancelled my service and now they want me to pay a cancellation fee.

I strongly feel it is time to stand up to these companies and their cancellation fees. They can provide lousy, or no service, and still get us to pay to leave. I will join in on any class action.

1. Representative lied about getting a free DVR with package. When I called in on that I had to fight through three levels of customer service rep. Finally a supervisor agreed to send me a $100.00 gift card to cover for being charged.

2. I filed for a rebate online. Needless to say the rebate never showed up and there is no record of it... Boom price goes up $30.00 a month... Luckily I have the confirmation number.

3. After three and a half hours on the phone talking with various customer server reps and supervisors I was livid. I have been lied to and abused by this company and will no longer take it. Seeing this website and the countless complaints online has left me enraged. Direct TV is a dishonest company! Dishonest companies should not EVER be allowed to profit from their actions.

Since I found absolutely no help from anyone I have decided to go to war with Direct TV. Rather than pay the early termination fee I have come up with a better plan.

1. Reduce your programming to bare minimums.
2. Purchase the 5.99 equipment insurance.
3. Knock the dish out of line once a week and call for service. This is at least a $50.00 service call.
4. Call customer service as often as possible. Those reps get paid and for every hour you spend trying to get your problems handled. Direct TV loses $15.00 to 25.00 per hour spent on the phone with them.
5. This is the clincher, after a few months of this Direct TV may decide that you are no longer "profitable" and cancel your contract. Make it a point to tell them that you really enjoyed making sure they did not profit from you.

While this is a pain in the ass and does not save you one plug nickel it IS the right thing to do! If enough people that were upset took this course of retaliation they would have no choice but straighten out. Companies these days don't care about what is right or wrong they only care about your money! MAKE THEM PAY TO STEAL FROM YOU!!!

I made a complaint earlier about Direct TV and re read it after submitting it and wanted to correct something. Where I said "It goes without saying I contracted Direct TV, " I meant to say, it goes without saying I cancelled Direct TV. Sorry.
Steve

I have a complaint about the salesman who talked me into DirecTV. I was never told I needed a land phone line plugged directly into my receiver in order to buy pay per view movies with my remote. I don't have a phone jack any where near my ppv receiver and therefore can not plug a phone in. I feel I was misled into signing a contract that I now regret. Also, I found out I can't get On Demand without adding other equipment to my receiver and router and paying additional fees. I am really upset that I am getting less for my money than I did with Cable TV. You better believe I will be switching back to cable tv as soon as this unreasonable contract with DirecTV is over. That's another thing. I have to pay a fee to stop my service. Cable doesn't charge you to leave them. I'm disgusted with the lack of product and services I am getting from DirecTV and hope they will change their policies in the very near future. Or I know I won't recommend them to any one I know.

DIRECT T.V. is the WORSE service in the country. I can hardly wait to disconinue service as soon as my contract expires, June 7, 2009. They have the WORSE customer service. I am being billed for two receivers I've already shipped to them since January 2009. Yet, they continue to threaten to discontinue service if it's not paid in full. I pay them $62 per month, have been having lots of problems with picture going, lots of FREEZING, SNOW, HORIZONTAL LINES, ETC. They sent a tech and said I would not have to pay for service call, yet my bill was $137, which it was included. I asked for CASE MANAGEMENT, they act like it doesn't exist, yet, I spoke with an agent in that dept. yesterday morning.

The repairman, who came to service the dish stated there is NOTHING wrong with dish, it's a satellite up in space cuasing the problem. It wasn't even the receiver, which Direct TV has replaced a total of 4 times!

I DON'T RECOMMEND DIRECT TV, not even to my worse enemy.